In Daanbantayan Barangay captains, residents eye recall petition vs mayor

CEBU, Philippines -  After filing charges with the anti-graft office, some barangay captains and constituents of Daanbantayan town are eyeing to initiate a petition for recall against Mayor Augusto Corro for alleged unfair distribution of relief goods to typhoon victims.

 Association of Barangay Councils president Rex Novabos has confirmed the plan following the alleged oppression, abuse of authority and irregularity in the performance of their functions and duties which caused damaged and prejudice to the constituents.

 â€œDili lang ang mga kapitan, ang mga tawo gyud mismo tungod sa nahitabo sa pagpangapod-apod sa relief goods,” said Novabos at the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

 Corro, for his part, hit back at the camp of former mayor Ma. Luisa Loot.

 â€œPapanamina sila kinsa’y angayan i-recall. What they have done to the people of Daanbantayan in the aftermath of the typhoon?” he said.

 Corro said Loot’s camp is in a hurry and cannot just wait for the 2016 elections.

 â€œNa threaten ra jud sila sa akong maayong binuhatan, na threaten sila how I handle things in honest and transparent manner,” Corro said.

 Corro is appealing to donors not to be discouraged by the unfolding events in the town, saying it is just purely politics.

 â€œSerbisyo publiko ang ato pamolitika, dili pagpanghadlok,” he added

 Also present during the forum were Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura who was a former mayor of Daanbantayan, Councilors Bregidorietta Tancawan and Zenaida Abucay; ten barangay captains led by Novabos of Logon (Malapascua Island), barangay councilmen representing each of the 20 barangays and some typhoon victims.

 They appealed to the town officials led by Corro to be fair as they are all victims of the catastrophe and to set aside politics.

 They alleged that “politics” was played in the distribution of relief goods donated by various government agencies and non-government organizations when only allies of Corro were given.

  Shimura has appealed to his colleagues to withdraw a resolution commending Corro for “his prudent and efficient handling of the overall relief operations” for the typhoon victims following the complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 But he failed to convince his colleagues, prompting him to appeal to donors to give directly to barangays in northern Cebu, particularly in Daanbantayan, and not through the municipal officials.

 (FREEMAN)